The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-12-03
THE TElEcRAPHIc MES
SAGE.
[woman's Magazine.l

[woman's Magazine.1
John Mills, the hero Of this sketch, was
railroad engineer, and had been for a long
time In the company's employ. When the
new engine $50" was completed and placed
on the road, John was given charge of 1t. and
he evinced natural pride in his prefer
ment At one of the stations there was
young girl, telegraph operator, between
whom and the engineer there had sprung up
a warm attachment, and whenever '59'
came along. Kate generally managed to be
at the door and exchange signals with her
lover. One day the train was detained at
the station, and the locomotive detached and
sent up the road. to do some additional work,
and Kate went along for ride. As she list
ened to the sharp, shrill notes of the whistle,
1t occurred to her that she might teach John
to sound her name In the Morse Geographic
characters, so that she could distinguish his
signal from that of the other engines, when
ever his train approached. The plan worked
TO q charm, and far and near the whistle
shrleked Kate, until one day, as the operator
stepped upon the platform, she overheard a
conversation between two young men, and
earned that they understood the signal and
were Iaughingly wondering who "Kate"
could be. Their means of communication
having been discovered, they were obliged
to discontinue it. In the meantime Kate
had, by means of the telegraph, made the
acquaintance Of young lazy, in distant
CITY,. but whom she had never seen, and to
her she made known the fact that the secret
had been discovered. Then her friend sug-
gested a plan as brilliant as 1t was ingenious.
1t was simply to arrange means of tele-
graphic communication between the ap-
q bell hidden away in the closet in Kate's
office. engine ''5s" being the only one pro-
vided with means of completing the circuit,
which was done by laying the poker upon
the tender-brake so as to touch the wire in
passing. Kate found an opportunity to ac-
quaint John with the proposed plan, and in
the meantime had found an abandoned wire
which ran for long distance close by the
track, and which she proposed to use for
carrying out her purpose. Thanksgiving day
came soon after, and John fortunately bav-
ing holiday, he and Kate went bravely to
woIk, and before the day had ended the task
was a complete success. The dramatic finale
Of their love episode is told in the following
In was singular how absent-minded and
inattentiye the operator was on the day that
the great scientific enterprise was finished.
No wonder she was disturbed. Would her
little battery be strong enough for such a
great circuit? Would John be able to close
1t? The people began to assemble. for the
train. The clock pointed to the hour for its
arrival.
Suddenly, with startling distinctness, the
bell rang clear and loud In the echoing room.
With a cry Of delight she put on her dainty
hat and ran In haste out upon the platform.
The whistle broke loud and clear on the cool,
crisp air, and 1897 appeared around the
curve in the woods. The splendid monster
slid swiftly up to her fee1 and paused.
Perfect, Johni Perfect! 1t works to a
charmr'
With springlshe reached the cab and sat
down on the freman's seat.
Blessed If could tell what he was going
to do" said the fireman. "He told me about
1t. Awful bright idea You see, he laid the
poker on the tender brake there, and it hii
tU,
was just primer
But the happy moments sped, and ''59''
groaned and slowly departed, while Kate
stood on the platform. her face wreathed in
smiles and white steam.
So the lovers met each day, and none knew
how she was made aware of his approach
with absolute certainty. Science applied to
love, or rather love applied ito science can
move the world.
Two weeks passed, and then there sudden
ly arrived at the station, late one evening.
special with the directors car attached
The honorable directors were hungry-they
always are and would pause on their jour-
ney and take q cup Of tea and bit of sup
per. The honorables and their wives and
children filed the station, and the place put
on quite gala aspect. AS for Kate, she
demurely sat in her den. book In hand, ,efid
oyer its unrsad, nAsas. sdmisess sss.ie gay party
in the brightly lighted waiting room.
Suddenly, with furious rattle, her electric
bell sprang into noisy life. Every spark of
color left her face. and her book fell with a
dusty slam to the floor. What was itp What
did 1t mean? Who rang it? With affrighted
face she burst from her Office and brushed
through the astonished people and out upon
the snow-covercd platform. There stood the
directors train upon the track Of the on
coming train.
1.-THE conductorl Where is hep Oh. sir
Start! Start! Get to the sidingl The ex-
press is coming"
With cry she snatched lantern from a
brakemsn's hand. and in a fash was gone
They saw her light pitching and dancing,
through the darkness, and they were lost in
wonder and amazement. The girl is crazy !!
No train is due nowl There can be no dam
ger. She must be-
Ali that horrible whistle. Such wild
shrek on winters night The men sprang
to the train, and the women and children
fed In frantic terror in every direction.
run for your lives" screamed the con-
duotor. There's smash-up comingw
A short, sharp scream from the whistle.
The headlight cleaned on the snow-coyered
track, and there was mad rush of sliding
wheels and the gigantic engine roared like a
demon. The great 49, slowly drew near
and stopped In the woods. A hundred heads
looked out and a stalwart figure leaped down
from the engine and ran into the bright of
the headlight
''Katel"
ooh, John, L"
She fell into his arms senseless and white,
and the lantern dropped from her nerveless
hand.
They took up tenderly and bore her into
the station house and laid her on the sofa in
the ladies' room. With hushed voices they
gathered around to offer aid and comfort
Who was shes How did she save the train ?
How did she know Of its approach?
"She is my daughter" said the old station
master. "She tends the telegraph"
The president Of the railroad, in his gold
bowed spectacles, drew near. One grand
lady in silk and satin pillowed Kate's head
on her breast. They all gathered near to see
II she revived She opened her eyes and
gazed about her dreamily, as II in search of
something.
do you wish anything, my dear?" said
the President. taking her hand.
"Some water, II you please, sir; and 1
want-I want"
Are you looking for any one, Miss?"
"Yes-no-it is no matter. Thank you,
ma'am, / feel better sprained my foot on
the sleepers when ran down the track 1t
is not severe, and I'll sit up"
They were greatly pleased to see her re-